The tournament was Sarkkinen’s general practice for the Paris Olympics.
A wrestler already selected for the Olympics Jonni Sarkkinen niist 82 kg silver late on Wednesday in the traditional Pytlasinski tournament in Warsaw, Poland. Sarkkinen won the silver by forfeit in his third match, as Warsaw’s own son Ihor Zakharchiuk was unable to compete for the medal.
In his opening match, Sarkkinen beat Sweden nicely by Tommy Sköld. Sarkkinen, who wrestled accurately, also passed the Swedish tie throw attempt.
– Sköld was an unknown man to me, but he worked well. I was active and enthusiastic, Sarkkinen said.
In the second round, Sarkkinen lost to Sweden by 2–4 points To Lukas Ahlgren.
The Swedes Sköld and Ahlgren wrestled each other, and the victory went to Ahlgren.
Sarkkinen now had a kind of general practice with the Paris Olympics in mind. In the future, Sarkkinen will have two intensive camps in Urhea Helsinki and one preparatory camp in Bulgaria.
– I can get sparring players from Germany and Kyrgyzstan at least to Helsinki, Sarkkinen explained.
Still wrestling at 77 kilos Akseli Yli-Hannuksela turned fifth in Pytlasinsk. Yli-Hannuksela gave up the bronze match due to a bump he received earlier. Yli-Hannuksela already had his best matches in the opening round, where he defeated Poland’s Aleksander Mielewczyk. Yli-Hannuksela crowned his match with a wonderful back belt throw.
Like Sarkkinen, Yli-Hannuksela also gets to experience the Olympic atmosphere in Paris, because he goes to Paris to spar with Sarkki.